Side frame for plankless trucks



Feb. 19, 1935. 1-, SYMlNGTQN 1,991,913

' SIDE FRAME FOR PLANKLESS TRUCKS Filed April 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I gma-nl ot mamas Jag/1722770 WY M Feb. 19, 1935.

T. H. SYMINGTON SIDE FRAME FOR PLANKLESS TRUCKS Filed April 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 1,991,913 SIDE FRAME FOR PLANKLESS TRUCKS Thomas H. Symington, to T. H. Syr'nington &

Baltimore, Md., assignor Son, Inc., Baltimore, Md.,

a corporation of Maryland Application April 23, 1930, Serial No. 446,651

14 Claims.

The invention relates to railway car trucks and has special reference to a truck in which the usual spring plank is omitted.

For instance as disclosed in my pending appli- 5 cations for patents for railway car trucks, one

of which was filed March 2, 1929 and given Serial 1 No. 343,947 and the other of which was filed April 18, 1929 and given Serial No. 356,063, it has been proposed to provide a railway car truck in 1 which the spring plank is omitted for the purpose of decreasing the weight, the number of parts and the cost. However, in doing away with the spring plank, the problem arises as to effecting squaring of the truck or bolster with respect to the side frames. Ordinarily there isprovided but comparatively little surface on-the column guides or sides of the window openings in a side frame, which surfaces contact with the sides of the bolster, inasmuch as reliance is not placed on the bolster for the squaring action.

It is with the above facts in view that I have devised the present invention which has for its object the provision of a side frame having an increased width at the column guides so, as to provide adequate surfaces contacting and cooperating with the bolster to bring about the desired and necessary squaring action.

An important object of the invention isto provide a side frame in which the prolongation or extension of the surfaces may be made at one or both sides of the side frame.

Another object is to provide a side frame in which the prolonged or extended surfaces may be obtained from the use of already existing patterns by adding thereto at the sides of the window opening in order that the finished castings will have the increased width.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a side frame having these characteristics and in which one of the extensions may be utilized as the anchorage for the brake hanger bracket in order to increase the strength thereof.

Yet another object is to provide arf ordinary channel type side frame having one or both column guides increased in width, either by the alteration of existing patterns or byproviding a special construction of brake hanger support which will give the additional surface.

Anadditional object is to provide a side frame having these advantages and which will at the same time cost no more to manufacture than one of ordinary type, which will involve no added difficulty in assembly, and which will be extreme- 56 1y emcient and durable for the purpose specified and consequently a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of a side frame constructed in accordance with one form of the invention,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof,

Figure. 3 is a -vertical cross section taken on the line 33 'of Figure 1, 1

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a modification, and

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, it will ,be observed that I have illustrated a side frame of the ordinary channel type including compression and tension members 10 and 11 extending to and connected with the journal box 12 andconnected by vertically extending 0011111111 guides 13 which are spaced as usual to define a window opening 14 for the reception of the end of the bolster 15. As the side frame is intended to be used in a truck without any spring plank the springs, indicated diagrammatically by the dot and dash lines 16 in Figure 3, will rest directly upon the fiat bear-' ing surface 17 at the bottom of the window opening. This seat portion may be of the usual dimensions and is reinforced at its underside by webs 18 as is customary. There is nothing unusual in'the construction of the tension or compression members and their connection with the column guides. In the carrying out of this form of the invention the novel feature comprises the formation at one or both sides of the window opening of an extended, prolonged or increased bearing surface 19 which in this particular instance is shown v as constituting a part of or anchorage for the brake hanger and therefore replacing the usual brake hanger bracket. This result is brought about by casting with the side frame the extending portion 19 which preferably extends throughout the height of the upper or smaller portion of the window opening with its surface flush with the'usual surface of this portion of the column guide so that the bolster 15 will bear against the extended surface in exactly the same manner as it ordinarily bears against the column guide. The bracket structure formed upon this extension 19 is represented as comprising a top wall 20 merging into the compression member at its juncture with the column guide, an end wall or flange portion 21 and a bottom flange or wall portion 22, the latter merging into the column guide somewhat near its juncture with the tension member, there being, moreover, an intermediate web 23 merging into the column guide and the end wall or flange 21 for reinforcing purposes.

To provide means for supporting the usual brake hanger, this extension member is shown as having its end wall or flange 21 prolonged laterally or in a plane parallel with the side of the side frame to define an ear 24 spaced from and parallel with the ear 25 formed on an intermediate web 26. The ears 24 and 25 are formed with bosses 27 and are apertured at 28 for the passage of the pivot pin for the brake hanger.

Of course it is intended that the ears 24 and 25 be located at the usual points with respect to the side frame so as not to derange the 'usual assembly. The point is that the bracket or support and the extension of the column guide for added bearing purposes are integral, each cooperating with the other to achieve the desired purpose. It'will be observed that this structure is shown on only one column as it was not thought necessary to illustrate the entire side frame and it should be understood that the structure may be duplicated on both columnguides if desired, as it probably will be.

In case it is desired to make use of already existing side frame patterns instead of providing new ones and therefore reduce the cost of my improvement, I may resort to the plan dis closed in Figures 4 and wherein I have illustrated a portion of an ordinary type channel side frame in most respects but differing therefrom in that the column guide is shown as formed with extensions 29 flush with the inner surface of the column guide and projecting laterally beyond both sides of the side frame. Actually these extensions may be simply webs and it will be observed that they merge into the edges of the column guides, it being, however, preferable to provide reinforcing webs 30 merging into the extensions and into the edges of the column guide, these being provided simply for stiffening purposes. The ordinary type of brake hanger bracket 31 is shown in this modification of the invention instead of the specially formed one above described as the sole purpose in this instance is to increase the width of the column guides at either or both, but preferably the latter, sides of the window opening.

In a truck assembly embodying side frames constructed in this manner it is of course apparent that the bolster is mounted upon the supporting springs in the usual manner with its ends entering the window openings. However, it is intended that no spring plank be used and such being the case the bolster springs will engage directly upon the seat 17 which may be provided with any ordinary or preferred means, not shown,

.for maintaining the spring nest in position. A

truck assembled in this manner will function the same as one in which the ordinary spring plank is used but will have the advantage of having one less part and being considerably lighter in weight. In view of the fact that the surfaces engaging the bolster have been greatly increased, either by means of the elements 19 in the first form of the invention or the elements 29 in the modification, the bolster may act properly to square the truck as experimentation has clearly demonstrated that the degree of angular movement is practirigid part thereof and added anchorage therefor.

From the foregoing description and a study'of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a novel side frame particularly adapted for use in a plankless truck and which may, if so desired, be constructed from already existing patterns with very little expense. It is thought that the construction, operation and advantages should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

-.1. A truck side frame formed at each column guide with a lateral extension flush therewith, the extension having top, bottom and end flanges and an intermediate web merging into the guide and into said end flange.

2. A truck side frame formed at each column guide with a lateral extension flush therewith, the extension having peripheral flanges, certain of which merge into the sides of the frame, and the extension being formed with spaced openings and a transverse rib between said openings.

3. A truck side frame formed at each column guide with a lateral extension flush therewith, the extension having peripheral flanges, certain of which merge into the sides of the frame and additionally having an intermediate .web merging into the frame and the end fiange.

4. In a railway car truck including a bolster and. omitting the usual spring plank, a side frame having a window opening therein and formed with lateral projections at each side of the window opening flush with the surfaces thereof, and reinforcing webs merging into the sides of the side frame and merging into said extensions, said webs'being vertically spaced.

5. In a railway car truck having a bolster and having the usual spring plank omitted, a side frame of the cast integral type having a window opening therein defined between spaced column guides, said column guides having lateral extensions projecting outwardly from both sides thereof and flush throughout, said extensions merging into the body of the column guides at the top and bottom of the window opening.

6. In a railway car truck, a side frame of the cast integral type having a window opening defined between spaced column guides, said column guides being formed with extensions flush therewith projecting laterally beyond both sides of the frame, the intermediate portions of said extensions having vertical edges, the remaining ing defined between spaced column guides, said column guides being provided at opposite sides with laterally extending projections flush therewith, and triangular webs horizontally disposed and merging into the outer sides of said extensions and into the outer faces of the side frame.

8. In a railway car truck having side frames and a. bolster in which the conventional spring plank is eliminated, the side frames having window openings, defined by columns having guides thereon, the spring reception portion of which is of A. R. A. dimensions, the column guides extending inwardly of the frames to form a surface having the extreme edges a greater distance apart than those of conventional form for the purpose of effecting squaring action through the bolster in absence of the spring plank or other equivalent tie means.

9. In a side frame adapted for use in a car truck wherein the spring plank or any equivalent tie means is omitted, a window opening de-' fined by columns, with bolster guide portions thereon, of such dimensions as to accommodate springs of A. R. A. or equivalent dimensions, extensions extending inwardly and outwardly of the frame at said guide portions to form surfaces having their extreme edges a greater transverse distance apart than those of conventional form, said extensions adapted to cooperate with the corresponding guides on a bolster to increase squaring action.

10. In a railway car truck of the rigid type including side frames and a bolster and devoid of any spring plank or tie means, other than the bolster, for connecting the side frames, a side frame having columns spaced apart to define a window opening adapted to receive the end of a bolster and to accommodate a spring assembly of A. R. A. dimensions beneath the bolster, and lateral extensions on the columns adapted to contact with the sides of the bolster in the length thereof to provide fulcrum points separated more widely than the distance betweenthe outer and inner edges of the window opening of a standard type of side frame so as to take the torsional and canting strains occurring between the bolster and side frames and thereby effecting squaring of the truck and compensating for the elimination of the spring plank.

11. In a railway car truck having side frames and a bolster and eliminating the conventional spring plank or other tie, aside from the bolster,

- between the side frames, each of said side frames having spaced column guides defining a window opening dimensioned to receive a spring nest of A. R. A. dimensions and having its column guides projected or extended laterally to provide widely spaced fulcrum points adapted to contact with the bolster longitudinally thereof to take torsional and canting strains occurring between the side frames and the bolster and thereby compensate for the absence of the spring plank.

12. In a railway car truck having side frames and a bolster and eliminating the conventional spring plank or other tie, aside from the bolster, between the 'side frames, each of said side'frames having spaced column guides defining a window opening dimensioned to receive a spring nest of A. R. A. dimensions and having its column guides projected or extended laterally to provide fulcrums engageable with the bolster longitudinally thereof at points materially more widely separated than the distance between the outer and inner edges of the column guides of a standard type truck to take torsional and canting strains occurring between the side frames and the bolster and thereby compensate for the absence of the spring plank.

13. A side frame for a railway car truck devoid of a spring plank or other equivalent tie means, comprising column guides spaced to define a window opening forreceiving the end of a bolster and of such size as to accommodate a spring nest of A. R. A. standard dimensions and formed with lateral projections adapted to bear against a bolster at widely spaced points in the length thereof to take torsional and canting strains and thereby effect squaring and rigidity of the truck and. compensate for the absence of the spring plank or other tie.

14. In a railway 'car tmck having side frames and a bolster but wherein the usual and conventional spring plank or its equivalent is eliminated, the side frames having column guides defining window openings the marginal outline dimensions 'of which permit the application of spring nests of A. R. A. dimensions, and the column guides of which are provided with extensions projecting laterally of the frames ,and formed to provide brake hanger brackets, said frames having ribs bracing said extensions, the lateral extensions. of the column guides being adapted for engagement with the bolster and having their outer edges spaced apart along the length of the bolster-a distance greater than is the case in a conventional type of side frame in order to provide fulcrum edges for engagement with the-bolster to provide for squaring of the truckin the absence of the spring plank.

moms H. sYMmcrroN. 

